Asacol (5-ASA)

Prescription medicineOnly Available By Prescription
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400mg
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800mg
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Strength
400mg
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Strength
800mg
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What if I find a lower price with another pharmacy?

We guarantee the lowest price on all of our prescription products. If you find your medications cheaper at any other recognized licensed mail order pharmacy, we will not only match their price, we will beat it by 25% of the difference. It is our 125% price match guarantee!

Example: If you find a product on Canada Drugs Direct for $50.00 and find the same product for $40.00 at another mail order pharmacy, we will provide you with a $12.50 discount, bringing your total to $37.50.

To get the discount please make sure to mention the price match to the customer service team when they call to collect payment for your order. Or call toll free at 1-888-904-8467 to place the order through the phone.

Terms & Conditions of Program

  • Guaranteed lowest price is only valid at the time of sale.
  • We will only match the current advertised price.
  • Products must be identical and in stock at the time of placing an order with a licensed mail order pharmacy. They must be an online Canadian pharmacy with an address in Canada.
  • Products must be authentic in brand and size (same manufacturer, same country of manufacture, same pack size, same strength and same quantity).
  • Products must be new. We cannot match the price of any used, short expiry or expired product.
  • Price match can only be issued over the phone with our customer service team. Please note at this time we cannot offer price matching for the products Ozempic or Saxenda.
What is a Generic Drug?

A generic drug is a copy of the brand-name drug with the same dosage, safety, strength, quality, consumption method, performance, and intended use. Before generics become available on the market, the generic company must prove it has the same active ingredients as the brand-name drug and works in the same way and in the same amount of time in the body.

The only differences between generics and their brand-name counterparts is that generics are less expensive and may look slightly different (eg. different shape or color), as trademarks laws prevent a generic from looking exactly like the brand-name drug.

Generics are less expensive because generic manufacturers don't have to invest large sums of money to develop a drug. When the brand-name patent expires, generic companies can manufacture a copy of the brand-name and sell it at a substantial discount.

Description

Chemical Name MESALAMINE (me-SAL-a-meen)

ASACOL is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis. It works inside the bowel by helping to reduce the inflammation and other symptoms of the disease. ASACOL is generally used to treat ulcerative colitis, proctitis, and proctosigmoiditis. It may also be used to prevent the symptoms of ulcerative colitis from recurring.

Fact Table

Formula

C7H7NO3

License

FDA-approved

Bioavailability

Approximately 28% (for delayed-release tablets)

Legal Status

US: Rx-only
EU: Rx-only

Chemical Name

Mesalazine / 5-ASA

Elimination Half-life

Variable, approximately 0.5 to 1.5 hours for the parent drug (mesalazine), but the metabolite (N-acetyl-5-aminosalicylic acid) has a half-life of approximately 5 to 10 hours

Dosage (Strength)

Oral delayed-release tablets: 400 mg, 800 mg (Asacol HD), and other strengths depending on the brand and formulation
Rectal suspension: 4g/60ml
Rectal foam: 1g/application

Pregnancy Advice

Category B (FDA); considered safe but should be used under the advice of a healthcare provider

Brands

Asacol, Lialda, Pentasa, Delzicol, and others depending on the region and formulation

Protein Binding

Approximately 43%

PubChem CID

4075

MedlinePlus

a688021

ChEBI

6775

ATC code

A07EC02

DrugBank

DB00244

KEGG

D00377

Routes of Administration

Oral, rectal

Directions

Take ASACOL exactly as prescribed by your doctor or indicated on the prescription label.

ASACOL is usually taken with a full glass of water. It can be taken with or without food. Consult your doctor for instructions. It is important not to crush, break, or chew the tablet. Swallow the tablet whole because the enteric-coated tablet has a special coating to protect your stomach. Breaking the pill could damage this coating.

Cautions

Before using ASACOL, patients should be aware of essential safety information that may affect them. Tell your doctor if you have any of the conditions listed below as you may need special testing or dose adjustments to safely take ASACOL:

  • kidney disease
  • liver disease
  • pyloric stenosis
  • congestive heart failure
  • history of allergy to sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
This medication must not be used during pregnancy because it may cause harm to an unborn baby. If you become pregnant or think you may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately. It is not known whether this drug passes into breast milk. Breast-feeding while using this medication is not recommended. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Side Effects

Every medication has side effects; however it is rare that they may occur. Patients can usually find the complete list of side effects with their medication.

Serious side effects may include:

  • allergic reaction including hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • severe stomach pain or cramping
  • fever
  • headache
  • bloody diarrhea

Common serious side effects may include:

  • mild nausea or vomiting
  • stomach cramps
  • diarrhea
  • gas
  • fever, sore throat, or other flu symptoms
  • constipation
  • headache or dizziness
  • fatigue
  • skin rash

Important: Call your doctor if you find undissolved tablets in your stool.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about additional side effects or any side effect that bothers you or that do not go away.

Frequently Asked Questions about Asacol (Mesalazine)


What is Asacol used for?

Asacol helps with inflammation, tissue damage, and diarrhea. It treats moderately active ulcerative colitis in adults.


How long can you take Asacol for?

Usually, you take Asacol for about 6 weeks.


What are the side effects of taking Asacol?

Asacol might give you stomach pain, cramps, or bloody diarrhea. You could also get a fever, headache, or skin rash.


What happens if I stop taking Asacol?

If you stop Asacol, talk to your doctor first. Stopping suddenly might bring back ulcerative colitis symptoms.


Is Mesalazine a steroid?

No, Mesalazine isn’t a steroid. It’s a type of drug called 5-aminosalicylates, used for ulcerative colitis.


Is Mesalazine a safe drug?

Usually, it’s safe if you use it how your doctor says. But like any drug, it might cause side effects. Tell your doctor if anything strange happens.


Does Mesalazine cause hair loss?

Hair loss isn’t common with Mesalazine. If your hair falls out, check with your doctor to see what’s going on.


Does mesalamine make you gain weight?

Nope, gaining weight isn’t something that typically happens with Mesalazine. If your weight changes a lot, talk to your doctor.


What is the difference between Mesalazine and Mesalamine?

They’re the same thing, just different names.


Can Mesalazine cause liver damage?

It’s rare, but Mesalazine could cause liver problems. If you see yellow skin or eyes, dark pee, or have belly pain, see a doctor right away.


IMPORTANT NOTE: The above information is intended to increase awareness of health information and does not suggest treatment or diagnosis. This information is not a substitute for individual medical attention and should not be construed to indicate that use of the drug is safe, appropriate, or effective for you. See your health care professional for medical advice and treatment.

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